Bridget’s pussy went on high alert with excitement. “Don’t do that to me when I can’t take you home and fuck you.”
“I like you thinking about it,” he growled, low and husky.
“I’m always thinking about it, you jerk. It’s disconcerting because I haven’t been too fussed about sex, and now it’s all I want,” Bridget grumbled.
“Can’t say I’m too upset by that. Once you go dragon, baby,” Bas said, patting her on the ass. She poked him hard in the side, making him laugh harder.
They had just passed Ha’Penny Bridge when a ripple of unease crept over Bridget. It was like someone had walked over her grave. She let go of Bas and drifted to the side of the wall to look over the water. People in kayaks were rowing past, using the little docks into the river to get in and out of their boats.
“What is it?” Bas asked.
“I don’t know. I just got a weird feeling,” she said. She felt like she was underwater. Everything went muted, and she thought she was about to dissociate. Bas was saying something, but she ignored him, following the pull of the feeling. She walked down a set of concrete stairs to the river. The dock was empty, and as soon as she stepped onto it, her feet sank into invisible mud. A shadowy man with too many teeth smiled at her.
“Got you,” he said and leaped inside of her, sending Bridget’s consciousness tumbling into the astral plane.
34
Bas caught Bridget before she could tumble back into the Liffy. Her eyes were shut, and she was in a dead faint.
“Bridget! Wake up!” Bas said, giving her a shake.
“Bridget isn’t here right now,” replied a cold, dead voice from her lips. She opened her eyes, but it wasn’t Bridget who looked out.
Bas’s blood iced over, and he hung onto her arm, even as he lifted his phone to his ear. “Val. 911. It’s got Bridget.” He hung up. “You are going to want to get out of my mate, creature.”
“Why should I? I like it here. Her mind is delicious and her imagination even more so. Do you know she’s been dreaming of a life with you? Shame that will never come to pass,” the Brollachan mocked.
Bas wouldn’t panic. Couldn’t. He wasn’t going to shift in the middle of the street. His dragon was writhing inside of him in fury.
“You get out of her, maybe I can be convinced not to kill you,” Bas said, trying to keep his voice even.
The Brollachan pouted with Bridget’s lips. “I think you’re a liar. You haven’t even told this girl that she was your mate. She’s going to die, never knowing.”
The roar of a motorbike cut through Bas’s fear, and Valentine pulled up on the footpath beside him.
“Need some help, little brother?” he asked.
“It’s got her, Val. We can’t shoot it.”
The Brollachan laughed. “Shoot me? Do you think a little bit of lead can stop me? All you will do is damage this meat suit I am in.”
Valentine pulled out some cuffs from his jacket pocket. “Whatever we do, we can’t do it here.”
The cuffs were silver and etched in rune marks and sigils. The Brollachan saw them and started to struggle. Bas clung to Bridget’s body as it wriggled and fought. Quick as lightning, Valentine cuffed Bridget’s hands, and the Brollachan screeched.
“It’s okay, everyone. I’m a police officer,” Valentine said to the crowd of onlookers. “Be about your business.”
Bas sent an illusion spell curling about them, making the pedestrians look the other way. A car pulled up, and Cosimo waved at them from the driver’s seat.
“You called Dad?” Bas asked.
Valentine shook his head. “He was with me when I got your call. Getting here on the bike was quicker.”
“Get her in here so we can take her home, boys,” Cosimo called.
The Brollachan hissed and spat, but Bas ignored it. He took Bridget’s arms, and Valentine took her legs, and they secured her into the sedan’s back seat.
“I’ll see you there. But in case you need it.” Valentine took a wooden box from his pocket and placed it on the front passenger seat.
